Coast Guard January 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is extending an established safety zone for emergency purposes for all waters of the Lower Mississippi River (LMR), extending the entire width from mile 311.0 to mile 319.0 above head of passes (AHP). This emergency safety zone is needed to protect persons, property and flood control infrastructure from the potential safety hazards associated with vessels underway transiting this area. Deviation from the safety zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Lower Mississippi River or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Drawbridge across the Mississippi River, mile 839.2, at St. Paul, Minnesota. The deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner time to perform preventive maintenance that is essential to the continued safe operation of the drawbridge, and is scheduled in the winter when there is less impact on navigation. This deviation allows the bridge to be closed to navigation.

The Coast Guard is amending and updating its special local regulations relating to recurring marine parades, regattas, and other events that take place in the Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley area of responsibility (AOR). This document informs the public of regularly scheduled events that require additional safety measures through establishing a special local regulation. Through this document the current list of recurring special local regulations is updated with revisions, additional events, and removal of events that no longer take place in Sector Ohio Valley's AOR. When these special local regulations are enforced, certain restrictions are placed on marine traffic in specified areas. Additionally, this one proposed rulemaking project reduces administrative costs involved in producing separate proposed rules for each individual recurring special local regulation and serves to provide notice of the known recurring special local regulations throughout the year.

On October 26, 2015, the Coast Guard published a direct final rule, which notified the public of our intent to amend merchant mariner manning regulations to align them with statutory changes made by the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014. The Act allows oilers serving on certain offshore support vessels, towing vessels, and barges to be divided into at least two watches. The change would increase the sea service credit affected mariners are permitted to earn for each 12-hour period of work from one day to one and a half days. The rule will go into effect as scheduled.

The Coast Guard is establishing emergency temporary safety zones for all waters of the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) between miles 109.9 and 185.5 and all waters of the Illinois River (ILR) between miles 0 and 128.9. The emergency safety zones are needed to protect persons, property, and infrastructure from potential damage and safety hazards associated with high waters. Entry of vessels or persons into these zones is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP). Deviation from the safety zones may be requested and will be considered on a case-by-case basis as specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) or a designated representative.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting approval of revisions to the following collection of information: 1625-0027, Vessel Documentation. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting this ICR to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR), abstracted below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting approval of a revision to the following collection of information: 1625-0047, Plan Approval and Records for Vital System Automation. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comments by OIRA ensure we only impose paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

The Coast Guard proposes to amend its safety zones regulation for Annual Events in the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan zone. This proposed amendment updates 18 permanent safety zones and adds 3 new permanent safety zones. These amendments and additions are necessary to protect spectators, participants, and vessels from the hazards associated with annual maritime events, including fireworks displays, boat races, and air shows.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Montlake Bridge across the Lake Washington Ship Canal, mile 5.2, at Seattle, WA. The deviation is necessary to allow the bridge to operate in single leaf mode during day light hours, and a full closure (both bascule leafs in the closed-to- navigation position) during night time hours while work crews replace bridge decking. This deviation allows a single leaf opening with a one hour advance notice during the day, and remains in the closed-to- navigation position at night.

The Coast Guard announces its intent to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc., to investigate the operational use of broadband cellular technology, including equipment that may be integrated into the National Public Safety Broadband Communication Band 14 LTE Network (commonly called FirstNet). The research also includes tactical employment of Multiple User Objective System (MUOS) Satellite Communications and common operational picture applications to establish Coast Guard network centric operations. A Pilot Demonstration schedule has been proposed in which General Dynamics will provide and install their Band 14 LTE Network, GeoSuite Server Common Operational Picture application, Satcom radios, smart phones, vehicle routers, modems, and antennas suitable for installation on select Coast Guard surface vessels, boarding teams, command center and ground vehicles. LTE Network base station radios will be placed on an existing CG-owned tower or a deployable equivalent. The Coast Guard Research and Development Center (R&D Center) will prepare a Pilot Demonstration Assessment Plan and a Coast Guard Sector will operate the equipment for exploratory development over a six-month period to collect information on suitability, reliability, maintenance requirements, and human systems interoperability. While the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc., the agency is soliciting public comment on the possible nature of and participation of other parties in the proposed CRADA. In addition, the Coast Guard also invites other potential non-Federal participants to propose similar CRADAs.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the US 90 (Danziger) vertical lift span drawbridge across the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal, mile 3.10 at New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. The deviation is necessary to conduct field measurements and other preparations for repairs and maintenance that are scheduled for later in the year. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed-to-navigation for nine days. During this closure, the bridge will open with at least four hours notice except during scheduled curfew times.

The Coast Guard announces that it has received approval from the Office of Management and Budget for an information collection request associated with ballast water management reporting and recordkeeping requirements in a final rule we published in the Federal Register on November 24, 2015. In that rule, we stated we would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of the collection-of-information related sections. This rule establishes February 22, 2016, as the effective date for those sections.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Highway 160 drawbridge across Three Mile Slough, mile 0.1, at Rio Vista, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner to make necessary bridge maintenance repairs. This deviation allows the bridge to be secured in the closed-to- navigation position during the deviation period.